Region 15 announces new superintendent

#Middlebury #Southbury #Region15

Joshua Smith is Regional School District 15’s new superintendent of schools. (Submitted photo)

The Region 15 Board of Education (BoE) held a special meeting July 12 to announce it has appointed Joshua Smith as superintendent of Region 15 schools, effective on or about Sept. 30, 2018. Smith will fill the position from which Regina Lemerich Botsford retired June 30, 2018. Botsford served as superintendent for approximately 5 years. Since June 30, Ralph Iassogna has been serving as interim superintendent, and he will remain in that position until Smith begins in September.

The appointment marks the conclusion of a search for a permanent superintendent conducted by the BoE serving as the search committee, with the assistance of the Executive Searches Division of Cooperative Education Services (C.E.S.). A leadership profile, developed from focus groups and an online survey, provided valuable input from over 1,150 participants that included students, staff, parents, public officials and Southbury and Middlebury residents. BoE members Marion Manzo and John Cookson served as chairpersons of the search committee.

Jennifer Connelly, Region 15 board chairperson, said, “We are excited to welcome Mr. Smith to Region 15. The board was impressed with his demonstrated accomplishments, leadership skills, ability to document and foster student growth and his outlook for the future of Region 15. He will be a valuable asset to our leadership team and we are confident that his energy, passion and vision will guide Region 15 forward to new levels of excellence for our students, staff and community. I would like to recognize and thank Marion and John for their efforts in spearheading the superintendent search and bringing forth such a qualified candidate to lead our district.”

Smith comes to Region 15 with 22 years of experience as an administrator, program director, and teacher. He has extensive knowledge of school district operations and improvements along with a commitment to collaborative planning and communication. He has been superintendent of New Milford Public Schools in New Milford, Conn., since 2016 and served as assistant superintendent in New Milford for four years before becoming superintendent.

In addition to holding administrative positions in New Milford Public Schools, Smith served as director of information and technology for Ridgefield Public Schools from 2007-2012 and worked at Area Cooperative Educational Services in Hamden from 2000-2007 as a program manager and educational technology specialist. His educational career began as a student teacher at Region 15’s Rochambeau Middle School in 1996, followed by a teaching position at Schaghticoke Middle School in New Milford. He has served as president of the Connecticut Education Computer Association and as a member of the Commission for Education Technology.

Smith’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in instructional technology from Southern Connecticut State University, and a sixth year master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Bridgeport. He also participated in the Educational Leadership Cohort Program at the University of Connecticut.

Smith said “I am excited about what lies ahead and working with the educators and community as a whole to move the district forward. I would like to thank the Board of Education for their commitment to the selection process and the opportunity to grow the Region.”